Network Analysis of Multinational Coordination during the HUNOR Rescue Organisation’s 2026 MODEX in Denmark

Abstract

Effective coordination and information flow are essential prerequisites for successful cooperation among multinational disaster response capacities. The aim of this study is to examine the structure of multinational coordination and communication during an international USAR exercise conducted in a simulated earthquake scenario. The research follows an empirical, quantitative approach and is based on the analysis of communication data generated by the USAR Coordination Cell (UCC) during the MODEX 2026 Tinglev exercise. The analysis relies on the metadata of e-mail communication generated during the full 48-hour operational period of the exercise. The research was conducted on two analytical levels. First, descriptive statistical methods were applied to examine communication load and temporal patterns. Second, the communication structure was modeled using network theory within the framework of Social Network Analysis. The results indicate that the communication structure followed a strongly centralized pattern in which the UCC functioned as a key information and coordination hub. The findings suggest that centralized coordination effectively supports the development of a common operational picture among participating teams. At the same time, this structure concentrates a significant communication load on the coordination center.